Page 105 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want
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5. PResentAtion
In the early 1990s a couple of psychologists at Harvard set up
a deceptively simple experiment. Three separate groups were
shown footage of one of the faculty’s sta≠ members giving
a lecture. The first of these groups was shown a ten-second
clip of him, the second group a five-second segment, the final
group only two seconds. Then each group had to evaluate the
lecturer’s aptitude.
Believe it or not, the evaluations from each group were
identical. Think about what that means. Just two seconds –
‘Mississippi one, Mississippi two’, no longer than that – is
enough time for somebody to form a lasting impression. So, if
you make a bad impression on me in the opening two seconds
of our meeting, whatever you do in the following eight seconds
is irrelevant. I will still start o≠ classing you as a no-hoper. Sorry
to be so blunt, but it’s true. I have an immediate perception of
93 presentation
